Even without unforeseen circumstances jumping up and getting in the way, the minds of high school kids can wander.

Serra Catholic baseball coach Brian Dzurenda knows as much -- he's in charge of a whole band of teenagers, around them everyday as the Eagles baseball squad has attempted to narrow its focus, pare it down to winning WPIAL and PIAA gold medals in what has been, thus far, a brilliant season.

And just as they were all amped up heading into what should have been game day on Tuesday, just as Serra (19-2) was starting a day in which it was slated to play Carmichaels (18-2) for the WPIAL Class A championship at Consol Energy Park in Washington, down came the rain and washed the baseball out.

Such is the case with these sports that aren't played with a roof overhead, as weather can turn a day from what was supposed to be one in which you played the biggest game of your life into one in which no game is played.

Now, it is Dzurenda's job to get his team back up on that emotional high again today, as the game has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. at the same venue.

"This has been such a crazy season with all the inclement weather that we are kind of used to all of this by now," Dzurenda said. "But with this game, sure it means a little more and I think our players understand it, which might make waiting a little tougher on their nerves.

"The best way to look at it, and the way I've told them to look at it, is that before that first pitch is thrown in the WPIAL championship game, we've had two added days to hone our skills with extra batting practice and mental preparation."

About that extra batting practice ... Serra standouts such as outfielders Tyler Gugler, Avery Sandor and Alain Girman, catcher Chris Miller and pitcher Oliver Girman better have put it to good use. They will be facing one of the WPIAL's finest pitchers -- regardless of classification -- when they see Carmichaels senior Joby Lapkowicz in this title game.

Lapkowicz, the ace of this staff which is looking to repeat as WPIAL champions, is 7-0 with 0.35 ERA and has struck out 103 batters in less than 60 innings of work this season.

What does Dzurenda know about Lapkowicz? He answered that question succinctly yet thoroughly.

"I know he's been pretty much unhittable for about two years," Dzurenda said. "That's about all you need to know about him."

That said, Carmichaels is a team that is more than just Joby Lapkowicz -- and Dzurenda understands it, as the Eagles were eliminated in the WPIAL semifinal last season by Carmichaels.

Senior shortstop Chuck Gasti, a Cleveland State recruit, is one of the finest middle-infielders in the WPIAL and has significant pop in his bat from the leadoff spot and junior third baseman Bill Musgrove is a solid corner man with the glove and has driven in 24 runs.

On top of that, Carmichaels simply knows how to win, as the Mighty Mikes have secured three of the past six WPIAL Class A titles.

"To be honest, I think this is the first game all year we are going to go into and be the underdog and I really don't mind it that much," Dzurenda said. "We'll play that role and accept it because Carmichaels is so good and has earned it.

"In being the underdog, it will be up to us to make some things happen. I know [Carmichaels coach] Dave Bates very well and anyone who knows him knows that he is going to bunt and squeeze and steal and have his players do everything in their power to get every little advantage they can.

"At the beginning of the season I said 'It was Carmichaels and then everyone else in Single-A,' and I guess, right now, we are the best of 'everyone else.' It's just a matter of if we are better than Carmichaels."